Reliable Market — Local services in Somerville

I use to love Reliable Market Place frequented it often in the past. Almost 20 years.

For some reason It is overprice. I could not believe my bill $393.00 just on condiments alone was expensive 15 items soy sauce and such , few green vegetables items, a packet of spicy ramen, 15 lb rice , two oval Mochi bags, and three gyoza bags one was $25.00? The other two $20 combined something like that. 3 soda bottle that has a marble as a cap in it for the grandkids.

Then as I walked to the back I was still shaking my head wondering WTH?

I was already overcharged the prices out way more than HMart and other Asian Markets.

Then to see a charge of $45.00 for Buns? I am thinking there has to be a mistake! What buns?! Are gyoza called buns?

I spoke to the son of the owner I would assume. Very nice and cordial young man. He checked the receipt and items I bought and agreed there no buns there in any of my bags. Told him it the buns were the gyoza you can take them back. I can make my own.

I also told him they no longer have The Japanese Ramen???

I got my refund on my card $45.00

I left Thanked the man and then went to my car and drove to the local Stop n Shop? The one around the corner or is it Market Basket?

Anyway for the price of one ramen bag was high at Reliable mostly spicy.

At the grocery store around the corner where I went and I purchased six boxes of ramen 3 shrimp and 3 chicken for the price of $18.00, two bags of cookies, 3 big bottles of Aloe Vera Juice. Total came to $44.98

Well spent. I went to the Reliable Market for the soda bottles with a marble top as a novelty purchase for the grandkids as they requested it. Then asked for shrimp and chicken ramen.

I can shop elsewhere and get reasonable prices and not worry about being overcharged and hindsight another $11.98 or $11.99 charge was suspect but by then I just wanted to go home and put my frozen gyoza in the freezer.

As I said I use to love shopping there but to date I will take my business elsewhere.

If you like liquor that would be a place to go as they have an array of different liquors and Alcohol beverages.

The irony of it all I went there to purchase three soda marble top for my grandkids.

🤦🏻Won’t be going back. Something just does not seem right the vibe has changed.

People are all pleasant enough just check...

I love this grocery store so much. In a fairly small square footage, they have such amazing variety of fresh produce (including shiso leaves, which are so hard to find!!), frozen foods, sushi grade fish, kitchenware, freshly prepared foods, and a truly unbeatable sake selection. (The only area they lack in is soy milk; I really wish they carried some imported Japanese brands, as American soy milk is so bad and has so many fillers in it. But for a grocery store to not carry just one thing I’m looking for is a really good track record!) It’s mostly Korean and Japanese groceries, but some offerings branch out into Thai, Chinese, and even Indian ingredients.

To boot, Paul is truly the kindest proprietor and also really knowledgeable about the products he sells if you have questions. I was once debating between two types of matcha powder and couldn’t quite tell the difference from the Japanese label, so he pointed me in the right direction.

I’ve now been coming here for a few years, but during I think my third or fourth visit I told Paul this was my favorite grocery store and he ran into the produce section and grabbed a HUGE Asian pear to give me as a gift in gratitude. It was so unexpected and so meaningful to have that kind of personal interaction in an increasingly isolated world.

I love shopping at this local business over H Mart, and I really hope they are in Union Square for decades and decades to come. With the neighborhood changing so rapidly right now, I do worry about this little spot. Support it if you live...

I guess food or groceries in not cheap in general with the economy these days, but reliable market has definitely not been a place to get a bargain, it’s a place to get good variety of Asian foods for sure.

I like their fresh food section, and their spices, mushrooms, and even frozen section. I don’t drink so can’t speak to the multitude of bottles. Every time I go, my bill comes over $30-40 for very few things in the cart. This pinches the pocket, making me avoid the place if I can, even if I don’t want to. I don’t think I’ve seen any specials around the store.

The proprietor probably knows it and throws in a snack or two for free with the order.

Today I purchased a rice seasoning (50g) bottle, one small chilli oil (3.3 ml) bottle, one pocky box and a seaweed snack and my total was $21! I needed to get my minimum to $10 because all I needed was the pocky and no debit card unfortunately… so I picked 2-3 things to bring it to what I thought was $10 hahaha… with a large margin.

Some of the items are written in Asian languages which can be difficult to comprehend what is the item or name, but google image translate helps and the store owner is also helpful. I am vegetarian, and I purchased a hot pot that had beef in it 😐

I wish I could make enough to buy more often from this place. I would be here more often, but I guess prices have all gone up, even...